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Eternal flame of beauty

Updated:
08/27/2017 10:48:55 AM EDT

The Hotel Ritz Paris, top, where she fled from paparazzi in a car shortly before it crashed in the Pont de l Alma tunnel, bottom.

Two decades after her tragic death, on Aug. 31, 1997, the memory of Diana Frances Spencer, the Princess of Wales, still captivates people throughout the world. On a trip to Paris in the second week of July, I bore witness to tourists leaving cards, notes and flowers at the foot of the Flame of Liberty, a full-sized, gold-leaf replica of the flame from the torch atop the Statue of Liberty.

The Flame of Liberty's history has nothing to do with Diana, and yet it is now her " unofficial" monument.

I first saw the Flame on a bus tour of Parisian neighborhoods, when the tour guide explained its interesting saga. It was originally a gift to the people of France in recognition of the strong Franco-American relationship dating back to America's revolutionary founding and all the trials and tribulations in between.

Tourists in Paris stop to take photos in front of the Flame of Liberty, read the cards to and leave messages to Diana, top right and below right. Aug. 31, marks the 20th anniversary of her death.

It was paid for by international donors and erected in 1989.

Located in an attractive rotary on the Place de l'Alma, it was considered a decent place to take touristy photos, especially since the Eiffel

Tower, looming magnificently in the near distance, could be framed in a photograph if done from the right angle.

By a sad twist of fate, however, the Flame of Liberty took on greater significance and prominence upon Diana's death in Paris. Actually, it was Elton John's rerecording of his 1973 hit song, " Candle in the Wind," a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, that changed things.

Sir Elton re- wrote the song's lyrics in an emotional tribute to Diana. The song was released as " Candle in the Wind 1997" and also bore the title " Goodbye England's Rose.

The song was an instant hit, reaching No. 1 on charts in England and several countries. By 2007, it was reported to be the second best- selling record of all time, behind Bing Crosby's " White Christmas."

But back to Sir Elton's lyrics. The second stanza includes the famous words written to Marilyn Monroe: " And it seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind, never fading in the sunset when the rain set in."

The third stanza is entirely written for Diana, where Sir Elton's reference to " this torch" inspired grieving Parisians and tourists to turn to a spot they could call their own in honor the Princess of Wales.

Hence, the Flame of Liberty became Diana's unofficial monument.

Here are the lyrics: "Loveliness we lost these empty days without your smile This torch we'll always carry for our nation's golden child

Even then we try the truth brings us to tears

All our words cannot express the joy you brought us through the years."

A day later, my wife and I revisited the Flame of Liberty on our own. We paused to look at a small crowd gathering in front, including a group of Asians who placed a bouquet of flowers at the base of the monument that clearly still bears an inscription on Franco-American relations. They paused to take selfies. Another couple wrote out a note on a piece of paper and actually had the Scotch tape to adhere the note to the monument's copper base. I was going to head over to the read the words, but my wife stopped me. "Let them have their privacy," she said. I obliged.

I overhead a man say it would soon be the 20th anniversary of Diana's death. The person looked to be in his mid-20s, which meant he was a child when Diana died. Still he knew of her legacy, an awareness I found to be amazing. Maybe it was from listening to Sir Elton's song.

Or maybe he read accounts about the well-publicized void left in the royal family's adventure book since Diana's death.

Looking back, I wish I had read the notes and letters from the well-wishers, and learned where they were from.

It's obvious, however, that most who visit the Flame of Liberty believe it was constructed to honor Diana.

Diana was 36 years old when she died and at the height of her beauty and popularity. It's probably
why her playful image still endures today: She'll never grow old in our memory banks. I'm not going to recount the details of her death, which occurred in a tunnel underpass not far from the Flame of Liberty. There will be plenty of TV documentaries shown this week to recap the sordid details and unfounded conspiracies. The truth is, however, the royal family used this shy, timid commoner girl to enter into what turned out to be a loveless marriage with Prince Charles, who desperately wanted an heir to become King of England. She bore Charles two sons, William and Harry. Then she was discarded.

In her final BBC interview ever recorded, which the royal family has tried to stop from being aired this week, Diana talks of the sadness of her
marriage and the ridicule she received from Buckingham Palace, which eventually drove her out. It's a must see.

Also a must see is how Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles will honor the 20th anniversary of Diana's death.

Twnety years ago, a young Tony Blair, then the newly elected British Prime Minister, described Diana as the "People's Princess." The phrase still rings true today in the United Kingdom as it does for many who'll visit the Flame of Liberty this week to leave behind notes, flowers and tears.

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